Department: Human Resources
Location: London: East London
Type of Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time – 40 hrs Per Week – (On-site)
Our Vision: Changing lives through education.
What We Do: The HR Employee Relations (ER) team plays a vital role in creating a positive, fair, and supportive workplace culture. We provide expert guidance to managers and employees on complex people matters, ensuring consistency, compliance, and high professional standards across the organisation
The role: The Employee Relations Manager is responsible for overseeing the full lifecycle of employee relations cases, ensuring they are managed efficiently, consistently, and in line with employment law and internal policies. They lead and develop a team of campus officers, allocate workloads, and maintain quality standards across all casework. Acting as the first escalation point for complex or sensitive issues, the ER Manager provides expert guidance to HR colleagues and managers to ensure fair, compliant outcomes and mitigate organisational risk.
They also collaborate with senior stakeholders to identify trends, address recurring issues, and recommend practical improvements that enhance employee experience and operational effectiveness. The postholder will deputise for the Senior ER Manager when required.
Responsibilities:
* Manage and resolve complex employee relations cases in line with company policies and legal requirements.
* Provide expert advice to managers on employee relations issues, ensuring consistency and fairness.
* Develop and implement HR strategies to improve employee engagement and workplace culture.
* Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of ER policies and procedures, recommending improvements where necessary.
* Support the HR team in disciplinary, grievance, and performance management processes.
* Maintain up-to-date knowledge of employment law and ensure compliance across the organisation.
* Deliver training and guidance to managers on HR-related topics, including handling employee disputes.
* Collaborate with other HR functions to align ER initiatives with broader organisational goals.
About you!
* Proven experience managing complex ER cases, including disciplinary, grievance, performance, and absence matters.
* Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and its practical application in casework.
* Experience working in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environment—ideally within education, healthcare, or another regulated sector.
* Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a team of ER officers.
Skills & Competencies
* Excellent case management skills with the ability to handle multiple cases simultaneously while maintaining quality and compliance.
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and support managers at all levels.
* High attention to detail in documentation, investigation notes, and outcome letters.
* Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
Qualifications
* CIPD Level 5 or above (or equivalent experience).
* Evidence of continuous professional development in employee relations or employment law.
Operational Capabilities
* Comfortable working with case tracking systems and HRIS platforms to monitor progress and ensure timely resolution.
* Ability to prioritise workload effectively in a high-volume environment.
* Experience in producing reports and identifying trends from ER data to inform operational improvements.
Personal Attributes
* Resilient, calm under pressure, and solution-focused.
* Collaborative team leader with a hands-on approach.
* Committed to fairness, consistency, and promoting a positive employee experience.
What We Offer:
* 25 days annual leave, plus 8 public holidays
* 1 day extra leave per year of service, up to a maximum of 5 days
* Workplace pension scheme
* Tuition reimbursement for career development courses
* Flexible Benefits: Cycle to Work, Workplace Nursery, Techscheme and much more
* Perks@Work discounts platform, wellbeing centre and much more
* Reward and recognition programme
* £500 award employee referral scheme
* Discretionary annual performance bonus
"What really stands out to me about GBS is its consistent focus on creating positive outcomes for students. Every team, even those without direct student contact, is deeply committed to this mission. Everyone understands that what they do plays a role in helping students succeed. It’s such a collaborative and inspiring place to work — it’s clear everyone genuinely cares about making a difference." (Steffi Korsah - Non-Academic Staff)
GBS is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and providing a workplace free from discrimination or harassment. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities. We take our core values seriously and work hard to create an environment where everyone feels welcomed.